The midland journal., 1887-06-17
Letter From Boston.

esque and rich in historical incidents and,
possesses wide range of charming resorts,
brlmful of unabated enjoyments.
Its entrance is protected by the rock
bound Brewsters that break the mad and
impetuous dash of old oceans swell which
continually thunders against its rocky bar.
riers. Once inside of its harbor, 1t is as
smooth as an inland lake, with waters deep
and broad studded with alluring and at
tractive islands of peculiar shap ts-as des-
ignated by the names given them--such as
Spectacle, Half-Moon and Apple Islands.
There are three forts in the harbor, the
property of the United States Government.
Fort Warren, the most distinguished of
the group, is probably more widely: known
than any other northern fort
During the ''late unpleasantness" it was
used as prison and, from out its embat-
tied easements, the gray and battled stained
forms from the once serried ranks of the
army of Northern Virginia, looked out
upon these scenes with enjoyments and
pleasures and warped by the exgencies
of the times, and with longings and wishes
for other scenes over your border lands be-
yond the ripping cadence of the famous
Potomac waters. Happily we fraternize
now, and the coming week will find the
surviving members of the famed Pickett's
Division guests of The citizens of the Hub;
who are bent upon grand reception, if
needs be, free opportunity to see all of
this scenery that military rule and disci-
pline forbade them seeing when the line
was drawn at the Potomac or the easements
of Fort Warren. To lend full military
air TO the proposed reception. J. A. An
drew Post will act as reception committee
attended by other veteran associations,
while the anniversary observances of the
battle of Bunker's Hill, June l7th, with
full military honors, will crown the event
of the week and Coy. Fitz Lee and his vet.
Grams with other honors easy and grand.
Fort Independence, on Castle Island
having been fortified since 1884, was de-
stroyed during the Revolution. 1t was re-
built and given its name in 1898. Fort
Winthrop, on Governors Island, is oppo-
site to Fort Independence, and on either
side of the ship channel to and from Bos-
ton. About two miles from Fort Warren,
at the entrance of the harbor, is Boston
Light; built of stone. The top ofthe light.
house stands ninety-eight feet above the
level of the sea, and is fitted with a revolv-
ing light, which can be seen distance of
sixteen miles in clear weather. On di-
rect line from Boston Light is the Spit or
Bug Light, consisting of iron pillars fixed
in rock, affordlng no surface for the waves
to beat against and destroy. 1t has fixed
red light, over thirty feet above the sea
leyel, and visible in clear weather seven
miles. Chelsea, the pleasant little city on
the banks of the Mystic, opposite to Char
lesion, is truly typical New England city
but Bostonians persist in saying she is dead
-hcnce-dead as Chelsea has grown quite
common, but 1 fail to see any ''aies on her."
The highways of New England are
worthy of especial notice. The dark clay
soil extending along the coast from Cape
Cod to the Maine border is prime factor
in their make up; in as much as it firmly
supports the heavy macadamized surface
upon them with great care and after per
feet system.
The PATCHWORK plan would not be tolerat-
ed at this progressive centre, where moth
ing short of perfect system enters into
the plans and specifications of froad-mak1ng.
For Cecil, still tis a pity, and it's pity
that still that such intolerable roadways
exist, Mr.. Editor.
A sure foundation receives the super
stratum of stones varying in size to the sur
face, each in turn being packed by heavy
rollers. The surface. with very fine parti-
cles of stone undergoes the packing system
till it presents the appearance of concrete
and is as hard as rock can make il. In Ce.
Gil it appears the matter is reversed, and
the system is rolled and packed to perfect
solidity and the roads neglected. The vision
of Cecil County highway yielding to the
balmy breath of spring haunts me even at
this distance from the upland meads of the
Midland City, and like the traveller who
preceded Mark Twain through the Holy
Land-hide my eyes and go for my pocket
handkerchief.
The persistant and insiduous nature of
Cecil County mud is worthy of full investi-
CATION and, at least the rubber shoes lying
near the surface should be resurrected and
returned to the owners as an evidence of
things thought for; or thought directed
as to what Ailes the roads about the Sun.
System, yes, that is the rub to go for the
rubber, but cash, the tax levy and other in
cidentals are to be considered also, which
may bring many scores of rubber shoes ere
Cecil has such highways as are found in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,.
G, p, w.